Netflix Reportedly 'Done' With Harry And Meghan As Partnership Sours
A damning new report from Hollywood entertainment bible Variety has delivered a brutal assessment of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's standing with streaming giant Netflix, claiming the platform is "done" with the Sussexes and describing their union as "far from a fairy tale." This revelation plunges the couple into fresh uncertainty regarding their post-royal careers and financial independence.
The Lucrative Deal That Lost Its Shine
The couple's five-year partnership with Netflix began in September 2020, just nine months after they stepped down as working royals, representing a cornerstone of their strategy for financial autonomy. While their initial six-part docuseries, Harry & Meghan, proved a significant success for the platform, subsequent projects failed to capture similar audience engagement.
Follow-up offerings including Heart of Invictus and Polo struggled to resonate. The first season of With Love, Meghan in March 2025 was widely panned, with its second season and a holiday special failing to break into Netflix's top 1,000 shows that year. The series has since been confirmed as cancelled.
When the original contract concluded last summer, it was downgraded to a less lucrative "first look deal," granting Netflix first refusal on new projects. More recently, Netflix announced it was parting ways with Meghan's lifestyle brand, As Ever, making it fully independent after previous financial backing from the streamer.
A Stark Warning From A PR Expert
We spoke to Mayah Riaz, a PR consultant to celebrities, about the unfolding crisis and how the couple might reclaim their brand power. "This might not be the end of their Hollywood dream, but it's definitely a reality check," Riaz stated. "Netflix was their biggest credibility marker in Hollywood, and losing that kind of backing dents their 'power couple' status."
She warned that while the couple still possesses relevance, their danger lies in becoming "overexposed without a clear hit project." Riaz argued that Prince Harry retains "strong individual brand equity, particularly around his military background and charitable work," presenting him as more relatable and less polarising than his wife in the public eye.
"From a PR standpoint, I would say that he is the safer asset. If managed correctly, he could pivot into a more respected, purpose-led figure," Riaz suggested. "The challenge is that right now, he feels tied to a joint narrative that sadly isn't always working in his favour."
The Perceived Pattern Of Repackaged Grievances
Variety's report claims Netflix has grown exhausted with what it perceives as the Sussexes' pattern of "selling repackaged versions of the same story about their exit from royal life." Critics have long noted that their most significant success remains intrinsically linked to airing grievances about the royal family.
This comes after a devastating blow to Harry's philanthropic efforts last year when he stepped down from Sentebale, the charity he founded in 2006 in Lesotho and Botswana, following years of internal turmoil and disputes with senior staff.
Meghan's 'Tone-Deaf' Australian Event
Further complicating their public image is Meghan's upcoming headline appearance at a high-priced women's weekend retreat in Sydney, Australia, from April 17 to 19. The event, organised by Her Best Life podcast founder Gemma O'Neill, promises discussions on life, parenting, and building a global business.
Tickets start at an eye-watering £1,439, covering accommodation and access to events including a gala dinner, wellness sessions, and a disco. A VIP experience, guaranteeing seating near Meghan and a group photo, costs £1,705 per person.
"Well, this is where perception becomes a problem," Riaz cautioned. "At a time when they're facing criticism around relatability and authenticity, attaching her name to a high-ticket, exclusive event feels totally tone deaf. It plays into the narrative that they are out of touch."
She added that it risks undermining any message about connecting with everyday people and sends the signal that "access to Meghan is a luxury product," which conflicts with the brand they have attempted to build.
The Path To Regaining Authenticity
Riaz believes the couple must now "simplify and reconnect" to regain authenticity. "What's needed is less glossy deals, more grounded storytelling," she advised. "Audiences are tired of what feels like curated vulnerability. If they want authenticity back, they need to show consistency between what they say and what they do."
She recommended focusing on one meaningful project and seeing it through properly, rather than spreading themselves too thin. "In short, less talking, more doing," Riaz concluded, framing the current situation not as a collapse, but as a critical turning point. "They either reset and become more focused and credible, or they risk drifting into celebrity noise without substance."
